Jan 19, 2012

"A member of the UK’s National Union of Students Executive Council has denounced several youth and student officers from the opposition Labour Party for taking part in an all-expenses-paid tour of Israel and its illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. The Labour students delegation met with Captain Barak Raz, an Israeli army spokesperson and other Israeli officials.

The Union of Jewish Students (UJS), a pro-Israel group, paid for the entire junket. The 4-9 January tour was led by Dan Sheldon, UJS campaigns officer. It included meetings with Tony Blair, the former UK prime minister who now works as a representative of the Middle East “Quartet” (the US, European Union, UN and Russia), and Mark Regev, chief spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu."

"Noted French philosopher and political theorist Jacques Rancière has canceled a visit to Israel after an appeal by PACBI, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel.

Rancière, emeritus professor of philosophy at the University of Paris VIII and Professor of Philosophy at the European Graduate School in Switzerland, had been scheduled to give a talk at Tel Aviv University on 25 January."

"Belgian singer Lara Fabian announced via Facebook on Thursday that she has cancelled her February concert in Lebanon after pro-Palestinian activists campaigned against her visit.

Fabian wrote in a "Love Letter" to her "Lebanese friends" that she "won’t sing under threats" and that she will not "deal with hatred."

The self-confessed pro-Zionist Belgian artist said she "believe(s) in tolerance, generosity and truth" and said Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel (BDS) activists were "living with hatred because they weren’t loved enough."

Al-Akhbar ran a story earlier in the week highlighting a BDS campaign in Lebanon to stop Fabian from performing at the Casino du Liban, citing her pro-Israel activities."